Pennies for Peacehttp://penniesforpeace.org
A service-learning program of Central Asia InstituteMon, 26 Feb 2018 18:16:39 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4Pennies For Peace Helps One Village Realize the Dream of Educationhttp://penniesforpeace.org/pennies-for-peace-helps-one-village-realize-the-dream-of-education/
http://penniesforpeace.org/pennies-for-peace-helps-one-village-realize-the-dream-of-education/#respondMon, 23 Jan 2017 23:20:37 +0000http://penniesforpeace.org/?p=2091Dasht School, in Tajikistan, is a story of unwavering faith in the power of education, despite obstacles both societal and natural. The people of Dasht and surrounding villages held classes for their children in unfinished classrooms too small to hold the number of children who want to learn. In December of 2015, a devastating earthquake [...]

]]>Dasht School, in Tajikistan, is a story of unwavering faith in the power of education, despite obstacles both societal and natural. The people of Dasht and surrounding villages held classes for their children in unfinished classrooms too small to hold the number of children who want to learn. In December of 2015, a devastating earthquake destroyed the already crumbling structure, leaving the school children without a safe place to learn. Pennies for Peace, CAI’s service-learning program for schools, clubs, and groups, is determined to raise the funds needed to finally give the deserving students a safe, updated place to learn.

Dasht School is located in Tajikistan’s Rushan District. Life is difficult in the shadows of the Pamir Mountain range, and inhabitants endure long winters with few options to earn a living. Most families create a meager living from raising livestock and hope that an education will provide their children a better life.

For several villages in this district, Dasht School formed the foundation of that hope. Construction on the school began in 1991 by the local government while the Soviet Union was still in control of the country. Unfortunately, the school building never reached completion. When the Tajikistan declared independence in 1991, the supplies and funding disappeared and classrooms were left unfinished.

Dascht School lies at the base of the Pamirs Mountains, where most families make a living by tending livestock.

The Unfinished School

In 1996 the villagers attempted to repair and finish the school, but they could only patch-up five classrooms while another five remained unfinished. With no other options and without the funds to finish the repairs, students and teachers cobbled together classes in the half-finished building. Currently, there are 47 school students (grade 1 through grade 9) and an additional 13 pre-school students enrolled in an early childhood development program.

Disaster struck on December 7, 2015 when a large earthquake shook the valley. The old Soviet construction crumbled, and the damaged Dasht School is beyond repair.

Many families fled to relatives’ homes in Rushan district, and the children were sent to the Rushan boarding school, but this was only a temporary solution as most families needed to move back to tend to their animals. Currently, there is only one safe classroom available for all the students. Some teachers have opted to conduct classes in the two least damaged rooms from the old building. The dream of the school seemed to crumble along with the school walls, but living in the mountains taught the people of Dasht resiliency and they are determined to rebuild.

The Power of a Penny

This is where Pennies for Peace (P4P) can make a big difference. P4P is a service- learning program where participants collect pennies to donate to CAI projects while learning about the cultures of people in Central Asia and the large impact that something as small as a penny can have on those less fortunate. Most participants are students and teachers, and P4P has created a common core curriculum with lessons to go along with penny collecting initiatives in classrooms.

When program director, Alanna Brown, heard about Dasht School and the desire of the villagers to educate their children, she knew she had to help. She had a hunch the teachers, students, and other groups running P4P programs would want to help the Dasht students too, so she decided to ask all new P4P participants to collect pennies for building materials and supplies to give the children of Dasht a new building with modern classrooms and plenty of supplies to ensure they get a good education.

Students of All Ages Mobilize with Pennies for Peace

Already, schools in the U.S. are collecting pennies to help Dasht School, and the students are learning they can create change with something as small as a penny. With their help, our partner program, Central Asia Institute – Tajikistan, will build a new school for children in kindergarten and grades 0 – 4 with four modern classrooms filled with all the supplies the students need to start their futures.

The total project cost is $40,000, which is a lot of pennies. Alanna is confident the story of Dasht School will inspire students and community groups across the country to get involved, learn about new cultures, and donate their pennies to help. It will take a big collective effort to reach this goal, but we are determined to succeed.

P4P Challenges Students Here and Helps Those Abroad

The Dasht students aren’t the only ones who will benefit from this effort. P4P programs challenge participants to explore different cultures around the world, including their own. Through free lesson plans that meet common core standards for elementary, middle, and high school, students learn about cultures in Central Asia and how life for the Dasht students can be similar to their own lives. They also learn that small acts of kindness can have huge impacts. After all, 12 pennies equal one pencil; 70 pennies equal one notebook; 30 pennies equal one chalkboard, and $1,000 equals one teacher’s salary.

Just like the students attending Dasht School are the future of Tajikistan, the students and children taking part in P4P programs are the future leaders of America. Given the right tools early on, they all have the opportunity to change the world and create a lasting peace.

If you’re interested in starting a P4P campaign for your school, Girl Scout or Boy Scout troop, church group, or book club, you can find more information here. We can’t wait to update you on Dasht School and all the other programs we are working on this year.

Original post from https://centralasiainstitute.org/one-penny-time-pennies-peace-helps-one-village-realize-dream-education/

]]>http://penniesforpeace.org/pennies-for-peace-helps-one-village-realize-the-dream-of-education/feed/0P4P Curriculum Includes Culture Quilt Lessonhttp://penniesforpeace.org/curriculum-culture-quilt/
http://penniesforpeace.org/curriculum-culture-quilt/#respondMon, 19 Dec 2016 23:23:52 +0000http://penniesforpeace.org/?p=2086Embrace culture in your classroom using our FREE curriculum! The concept of culture may be new, or difficult, for some students to understand. Although students may be aware that some of their friends practice a different religion, or have different family traditions, they may not be aware that those things make up a person’s culture—or of the importance [...]

The concept of culture may be new, or difficult, for some students to understand. Although students may be aware that some of their friends practice a different religion, or have different family traditions, they may not be aware that those things make up a person’s culture—or of the importance of acknowledging that we all come from different cultures.

In this lesson students first research culture in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. Next, they are asked to brainstorm the attributes that make up their own cultures. Then, students create their own culture square to illustrate their family customs and culture. They can draw pictures, make collages or use any other creative ideas. When all the students have finished, they put the squares together to form a quilt made up of different squares and different cultures.

Students will explore their own culture and make connections to other cultures— exploring the similarities and differences among cultures and developing an appreciation for cultural diversity in our global community

Middle and high school teachers: Use the Essential Questions on page 2 of the lesson plan to encourage your students to think about culture in deeper ways. The Essential Questions can prompt journal assignments, essays, or larger projects.

Find this and other multicultural curriculum by registering for Pennies for PeaceHERE.It’s FREE!

]]>http://penniesforpeace.org/curriculum-culture-quilt/feed/0The Dream that Changed Everythinghttp://penniesforpeace.org/dream-changed-everything/
http://penniesforpeace.org/dream-changed-everything/#respondThu, 01 Sep 2016 15:32:50 +0000http://penniesforpeace.org/?p=2045“This stuff, this work, isn’t just for grown-ups. It’s for us to do.” – Grade Four Student Earlier this year, I received an email from Liz Raja, a fourth grade teacher at Halton Hills Christian School (HHCS) in Ontario, Canada. Mrs. Raja informed me that her students intended to write a book based on one of [...]

]]>“This stuff, this work, isn’t just for grown-ups. It’s for us to do.” – Grade Four Student

Earlier this year, I received an email from Liz Raja, a fourth grade teacher at Halton Hills Christian School (HHCS) in Ontario, Canada. Mrs. Raja informed me that her students intended to write a book based on one of the Pennies for Peace lesson plans, “More Alike Than Unalike.”

I was anxious to read the book, so I was thrilled when a package arrived in June with two copies of “The Dream that Changed Everything”. The charming book was written, illustrated, and published by grade four students at HHCS.

“The book takes on the difficult topic of equal access to education for children around the world. In it, readers meet Emily and Amena. They live in different countries, have different lives, and even speak different languages. But under all of that, they are the same – children who want to learn and go to school.” said Mrs. Raja. “The grade fours produced this book as a way to help make equal access to education more possible.”

The students sold their book a local farmer’s market to raise money for Pennies for Peace, where they were met with overwhelming support. “Customers were so impressed with my students’ ability to articulate their concerns” Mrs. Raja shared. “Never again will I underestimate the power and conviction of young minds. Social justice has gripped our classroom and I am grateful for the growth and learning it brought to my students!”

Mrs. Raja’s class read “The Breadwinner” by Canadian author Deborah Ellis, earlier in the year. “The students were enthralled by the setting, culture, and traditions. Many days we would only read 2-3 pages because they had so many questions. We are a Christian school and so many of the students had questions about what it was like to be a Muslim. But overall, my class was struck by the great inequality between the genders and they had never seen education as a privilege. Now they know that education is the single-most empowering and life-changing element of a person’s life – and it opens many opportunities for them.” Mrs. Raja, didn’t stop there she used the Pennies for Peace lesson plans as her foundation.

“The project bloomed from there. The lesson plans gave the children a framework to better understand the issues surrounding equal access to education. The class learned about perspective-taking, which I believe is a life skill that will equip them with compassion and a sense of justice as they continue to grow and learn about the world around them.”

Mrs. Raja also used the Pennies for Peace videos. “Students first watched the video of various girls and their morning routines. The class could immediately point out all of the differences between ‘them and us.’ Then they were encouraged to watch the video a second time, and to focus on what makes us the same. They were quite astute at pointing out the similarities: she laughs with her family, they eat breakfast together, she has chores, she has friends she looks forward to seeing. And all of a sudden, the class moved from being different from these girls, to developing a partnership of sorts: A team of children just trying to figure out what it means to grow up regardless of place, culture, religion, etc. My students left the fourth grade understanding that when it comes to people near or far, we are more alike than we are different. What a powerful sentiment!” said Mrs. Raja.

Mrs. Raja use her project-based learning block for the Pennies for Peace project. The students decided that their project would be based on the question: “How can we, as global citizens, advocate for equal access to education?” The idea to write and publish a book was born from that question. “Their ultimate goal was two-fold,” said Mrs. Raja, “to sell books to raise enough money to buy supplies so that 200 girls could go to school for one year, and to make sure that the book ended up in the hands of girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan, so they would know how important they are.”

Mrs. Raja’s students also worked together to determine the best way to sell their book. It was decided that they would sell the book at a local farmer’s market. The students designed a stall, props, and made a schedule for the day. They talked about how to interact with adults and answer their questions about Pennies for Peace. “We knew that some people may not like our book, thinking our time would, have been better spent on something closer to home, something Canadian,” said Mrs. Raja. But as my one student said, ‘For every no, we get closer to a yes. And a yes has the power to send a girl to school.’ This is powerful learning!”

When asked what she felt was the most important aspect of the program, Mrs. Raja said, “Philanthropy – or service as we call it at HHCS. To look out for the interests of others. To go outside of yourself and see the world more objectively. To not only see injustices in the world but also do something. One of my students wrote in his journal, ‘I feel empowered because I didn’t know that I could help send a girl to school. I’m only in Grade Four, but I can make the world better too.’ Another said, ‘This stuff, this work, isn’t just for grown-ups. It’s for us to do.’ My students learned valuable life-skills because of this program. They learned to put others first, to take a stand and advocate for something bigger than yourself, to recognize that our similarities can draw us together, to be culturally sensitive, and to make goals and work towards reaching them.” But let them tell you in their own words:

“1 girl, 1 neighbor, 1 village, a city, a country, the world. See what one small thing can do? See what joy education can bring? This is the work of Pennies for Peace.” – Grade Four Students, HHCS

By Alanna Brown, Pennies for Peace Manager

Note: “The Dream that Changed Everything” has sold over 125 copies in English, and is being published in Pashto and Urdu for students in Pakistan and Afghanistan. If you would like to purchase a copy please email Mrs. Raja at l.raja@hh-cs.org.

]]>http://penniesforpeace.org/dream-changed-everything/feed/0What my daughter did for girls’ education in 40 dayshttp://penniesforpeace.org/daughter-girls-education-40-days/
http://penniesforpeace.org/daughter-girls-education-40-days/#respondTue, 26 Jul 2016 18:16:37 +0000http://penniesfpeace.wpengine.com/?p=1944Lent is a “season” of 40 days prior to the celebration of Easter. During Lent, many Christians temporarily “give up” things that they consider to be part of their daily lives - some people fast, others may abstain from watching television, while others say no to chocolate or candy. This year, my 10-year-old daughter decided [...]

]]>Lent is a “season” of 40 days prior to the celebration of Easter. During Lent, many Christians temporarily “give up” things that they consider to be part of their daily lives – some people fast, others may abstain from watching television, while others say no to chocolate or candy. This year, my 10-year-old daughter decided that instead of “giving up” something, it would be more impactful to “GIVE” to others in need. She learned about the Pennies for Peace program, and how the program builds schools and educates children in need in Central Asia. She was especially taken with the fact that Central Asia Institute was wanted girls to be included as students and receive the same education as boys.

She decided she wanted to share information about Pennies for Peace and also raise money to buy school supplies and other items to help children in the program. Over the course of Lent, she sent out emails to our neighbors through our Home Owners Association email system and placed a Pennies for Peace jar on our front porch and invited neighbors to donate their loose change to the cause. With each email, she provided an update on the funds raised to-date, and also any current news or interesting information about the program. For instance, in one communication, she gave statistics about the importance of educating girls in this part of the world and how much it helps their families if they are educated and able to get a job. In another email, she shared that Pennies for Peace had started raising funds for security walls so that all the children could attend school safely and not have to worry about outside attacks.

She was also allowed, by her teacher, to place a Pennies for Peace jar in her classroom and share information about the program with the students. The catch to all of this is that we, her parents, agreed to match the funds that she raised, thereby doubling her impact.

Over the course of 40 days, she raised $235.24 in loose change from neighbors and classmates…in pennies alone she raised $61.50 (that’s 6,150 pennies!). We rolled a lot of coins and took them to the bank to have them cashed, and then we sent a check, to Pennies for Peace for $470.48!

This was such a fun project for her as she was able to ask people to do a very simple thing – part with all their loose change – to help provide an education to children, including girls, in Central Asia. In addition, it was a great way for her to observe Lent and learn how her actions here at home can have an impact on her counterparts half a world away.

She’s already working on expanding her efforts in observance of Lent next year!

]]>http://penniesforpeace.org/daughter-girls-education-40-days/feed/0Why I have the best job in the worldhttp://penniesforpeace.org/best-job-world/
http://penniesforpeace.org/best-job-world/#respondThu, 26 May 2016 21:40:24 +0000http://penniesfpeace.wpengine.com/?p=1883“What do kids in Pakistan feed their pets?” The question, from a 4th grader at Westhaven Elementary School in Portsmouth, Virginia, stumped me. I was at Westhaven last month to congratulate the students for their fundraising efforts earlier in the year. Efforts that lead to scholarships to send 15 students in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan [...]

The question, from a 4th grader at Westhaven Elementary School in Portsmouth, Virginia, stumped me. I was at Westhaven last month to congratulate the students for their fundraising efforts earlier in the year. Efforts that lead to scholarships to send 15 students in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan to school for the year. I showed the students at Westhaven photos of CAI schools and our students; and played a video of a typical day in the life of a 4th grader in Afghanistan.

The students at Westhaven were happy, energetic kids with an unending list of questions for me. They asked about the languages that our students speak in school, the chores they do at home, and what they feed their pets. (I have since asked my colleagues overseas, and they reported back that families in the regions where we work typically feed their pets table scraps or left-overs from their dinner.)

The students at Westhaven also shared with me three beautiful “Culture Quilts” made of paper squares that illustrate the unique aspects of their culture. The quilts serve as a colorful and important reminder that our differences – the things that make us unique and special – blend together to make our community richer. And most importantly, that our similarities far outweigh our differences.

Concern for Student Safety

The next day I visited another school in Portsmouth, I.C. Norcom High School, where the students had slightly more intense questions. They were curious about the safety of our students and asked insightful questions about security, politics, and oppression. Some questions were tough to answer, but the students were mature, thoughtful, and desperately wanted to better understand the issues surrounding life and education in Central Asia. I wish you could have interacted with them! Impressive is an understatement. With these students as our future leaders, I have reason to be very hopeful.

My trip continued north to Baltimore, Maryland, where I met with the Pennies for Peace Club at Eastern Technical High School to present them with the 2016 Peace Leader Award. Club Advisor Frank McGrath, a veteran math teacher, is a dedicated champion for equality and peace, and leads his club with thoughtful guidance – allowing them to form their own opinions about peace, justice and human rights.

The students that I met at Eastern Tech were controlled and had a grit about them that was unexpected, due to their age, yet reminded me of the determined students that we serve in Central Asia.

Pennies for Peace and cultural education

My last stop was at Cathedral Catholic High School (CCHS) in San Diego, California. Let me be clear… CCHS is not your typical high school. It looks like a college campus with beautiful grounds and perfectly maintained buildings. The students had an air of lighthearted joy that one might expect from Southern California “beach kids.” I was presenting the award to Ms. Christine LaPorte, a teacher who was new to CCHS, but who had been running Pennies for Peace campaigns for years at her former school. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how familiar the students at CCHS would be with Pennies for Peace. But CCHS has a long history of philanthropy – and the award assembly was “standing room only.” Over 130 students came to the assembly (on a Friday afternoon, no less!) to watch this new, yet very popular teacher receive the award.

In her acceptance speech, Ms. LaPorte talked about her “duty” to do what she can to promote justice and human rights. This sense of duty appears to be woven into her daily routine and it is obvious that she loves helping others and inspires her students and colleagues to do the same.

Meeting the students, teachers and community VIPs who attended these four events reminded me that I really do have the best job in the world. Not only do I get to work for an organization that is changing the lives of children in need, but I also get to share with students in the U.S. that even the smallest things, like giving a penny, can have a realimpact half a world away!

]]>http://penniesforpeace.org/best-job-world/feed/0Pennies, Peace and Pie!http://penniesforpeace.org/pennies-peace-pie/
http://penniesforpeace.org/pennies-peace-pie/#respondWed, 25 May 2016 16:48:48 +0000http://penniesfpeace.wpengine.com/?p=1860“Pennies, Peace, Pies,” you could hear the students at John J. Lukancic Middle School cheering at their spring break assembly last month. Lukancic Middle School is located about 35 miles southwest of Chicago. The students are diverse, and come from multiple neighborhoods surrounding the school. “Our school and district supports students in learning, sharing, and celebrating our differences,” [...]

]]>“Pennies, Peace, Pies,” you could hear the students at John J. Lukancic Middle School cheering at their spring break assembly last month. Lukancic Middle School is located about 35 miles southwest of Chicago. The students are diverse, and come from multiple neighborhoods surrounding the school. “Our school and district supports students in learning, sharing, and celebrating our differences,” said Allison Kucharski, family and consumer science teacher. In her classes, Ms. Kucharski teaches students life skills such as money management, cooking, and nutrition, and techniques to prepare students for a career after high school. Due to the nature of her classes, Ms. Kucharski’s teaching style is very hands-on and she stresses the importance of keeping students interested and involved every day.

Spring break was coming up quickly. To keep students engaged, Ms. Kucharski launched the Pennies for Peace service-learning program. She wanted to help them understand the importance of education – here in the United States and globally. “I knew that Pennies for Peace provides opportunities for students, especially girls, to receive an education; but what I did not realize is that they provide much more than education. They provide students a safe place to attend school with their peers, and a sense of purpose and belonging within the school setting,” said Ms. Kucharski.

Pennies for Peace offers a free K-12 curriculum and toolkit to teach students the importance of why they’re collecting pennies. “I focused mostly on the “More alike than Unalike” and “Power of a Penny” lessons. The lessons were very easy to follow. My students were engaged from the beginning and we had meaningful conversations about each topic. The lessons can be used in many different ways, and I could incorporate my district’s key curriculum standards,” said Ms. Kucharski.

Two of Ms. Kucharski’s classes, totaling fifty students, participated in Pennies for Peace this spring. “It was inspiring to see how much the students took ownership of the program. They really felt a connection to the students in the videos and genuinely wanted to make a difference for those children. I believe my students started to understand how important their education is and how fortunate they are to have a school, teachers, and community that supports their education on a daily basis.”

Pies in the face

I asked Ms. Kucharski what her students found most appealing about the program, and she mentioned the concept of the penny. “My students liked explaining the concept of the “Power of a Penny” to other students at our school. They were empowered by the idea that they could help students in Central Asia by donating their change.”

And Ms. Kucharski’s students inspired other teachers to join in on the fun. Several teachers at Lukancic Middle School agreed to put a penny jar in their classroom. At the end of the weeklong campaign, each class that filled their teacher’s jar got to throw a pie in the teacher’s face! By the end of the week, eleven teachers had full containers of pennies – which meant that eleven teachers got a pie in the face at the spring break assembly. You could hear the students chanting “Pennies, Peace, Pies,” all afternoon. This fun activity raised $500 dollars.

“I would tell another teacher that the curriculum is super easy to use. By incorporating the videos and the pictures, students are quickly engaged and interested in the topic. And your students will surprise you with how much empathy and dedication they develop from this program in a short amount of time.” said Ms. Kucharski.

]]>http://penniesforpeace.org/pennies-peace-pie/feed/0Leaders in push for Peace Through Education honoredhttp://penniesforpeace.org/leaders-push-peace-education-honored/
http://penniesforpeace.org/leaders-push-peace-education-honored/#respondWed, 13 Apr 2016 21:43:07 +0000http://penniesfpeace.wpengine.com/?p=1887This summer, five schools that have consistently demonstrated a commitment to peace and education will be awarded the Peace Leader Award. Created by Pennies for Peace (P4P), CAI’s service-learning program, in honor of the organization’s 20th anniversary, the Peace Leader Awards are designed to recognize students and teachers around the U.S. who have made a [...]

]]>This summer, five schools that have consistently demonstrated a commitment to peace and education will be awarded the Peace Leader Award.

Created by Pennies for Peace (P4P), CAI’s service-learning program, in honor of the organization’s 20th anniversary, the Peace Leader Awards are designed to recognize students and teachers around the U.S. who have made a difference in their own community and in the lives of people living in Central Asia.

This will be the first year that Pennies for Peace presents the awards.

“It seemed fitting seeing as how this is our, and Central Asia Institute’s, twentieth anniversary,” said Alanna Brown, Pennies for Peace manager. “We wanted to recognize those individuals who go above and beyond to demonstrate leadership and compassion, and bring hope and encouragement to others. They are the ones who want to give back and take responsibility for change.”

Brown and Fozia Naseer, CAI Azad Jammu Kashmir program manager and former CAI scholarship recipient, will present the awards.

Fozia is a peace leader in her own way. She grew up the youngest of five children in the Azad Kashmir region of Pakistan. Her family always knew that education was important and encouraged her to attend college and eventually law school. But that wasn’t enough for the curious woman. A few years later Fozia was offered a scholarship through CAI and spent two years in Bozeman, Montana studying at Montana State University.

“While there, I came to realize that the place where I could do the most good and make the largest impact was back in my home country. I wanted to help train teachers in Pakistan. I kept thinking of all the girls who had no hope, opportunities, or access to education,” said Fozia.

Now, with the support of CAI and the Central Asia Educational Trust, a CAI partner organization in Pakistan, Fozia oversees 13 schools and vocational programs that support women and girls.

“The work being done by CAI and Pennies for Peace has a significant impact on the lives of women and children in Pakistan. The program has reached so many families in ways we can likely never measure. There are many reasons why promoting education in these regions is important, ranging from reduction in infant and maternal mortality rates to lowering the rate of child marriage, malnutrition, and domestic and sexual violence. But there’s one really important reason that seems to be particularly pertinent: education promotes peace. Education has been touted as one of the most powerful tools we can implement in our global efforts to promote world peace. I have seen this impact firsthand.”

Fozia’s inspirational story and dedication to education in Pakistan will show the Peace Leader award winners firsthand how their hard work and donation helps students get an education that will lead to a brighter future.

“My hope is that over the next 20 years more and more children, especially girls, will have access to good schools, be taught by qualified teachers, and obtain opportunities to better their lives and the lives of their families and community members. Central Asia Institute and Pennies for Peace are leading the way.”

Congratulations again to the 2016 Peace Leader Award Winners!

For more information, or to nominate a school for the 2017 Peace Leader Awards, please visit penniesforpeace.org.

“I’m planting a seed to build awareness about what is happening in other parts of the world – especially in places where girls are denied an education. At some point, that seed will grow and my students will become mindful, giving adults.”

]]>http://penniesforpeace.org/leaders-push-peace-education-honored/feed/0Pennies for Peace Promotes the Importance of Servicehttp://penniesforpeace.org/pennies-peace-promotes-importance-service/
http://penniesforpeace.org/pennies-peace-promotes-importance-service/#respondWed, 03 Feb 2016 21:50:17 +0000http://penniesfpeace.wpengine.com/?p=1890Bozeman, Montana, CAI’s hometown, embraced a new chapter of our Pennies for Peace (P4P) program, launching initiatives around town. Events started on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (also recognized as the National Day of Service) and continued through the month of January. Along with fundraising efforts, including coin collections to go towards the promotion of [...]

]]>Bozeman, Montana, CAI’s hometown, embraced a new chapter of our Pennies for Peace (P4P) program, launching initiatives around town. Events started on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (also recognized as the National Day of Service) and continued through the month of January. Along with fundraising efforts, including coin collections to go towards the promotion of education for girls and women in remote regions of Central Asia, the goal of the events was to raise awareness of the importance of giving back.

A gathering at Lockhorn Cider House kicked off the month-long celebration of service, where CAI photographer Erik Petersen’s work was displayed and a slideshow and a talk by CAI Director Jim Thaden took place. Among those who attended were supporters of CAI and others who were interested in learning more about CAI. “I’ve donated money to CAI for years,” said one woman after the slideshow. “I like the uniqueness of this organization; they are getting things done. I believe in education and women’s rights, and through this I can also vicariously visit Himalayas.”

She had a friend with her who wasn’t as familiar with the organization. “I came because I was curious about how the CAI has evolved, and also to try the cider here,” he admits. The support from local businesses such as the Lockhorn is a powerful way to connect with community members and to spread the word about CAI programs and the importance of service. Lockhorn owners Anna and Glenn Deal regularly support area nonprofit organizations by hosting events, but this one was particularly important to them. “We are going above and beyond for this one by matching funds and giving out cider for penny jar donations,” Anna said. “We have three kids, two of them daughters, and giving kids the opportunity to have an education is so important. Without it you’re stuck with whatever your immediate surroundings are, but with education you can find your passions and break out.”

P4P: Service Learning at Local Schools

These events also coincided with the launch of the new P4P curriculum at several Bozeman-area public schools and as part of the Greater Gallatin United Way Kids-Link After-School program. P4P has been in existence since 1996, and it started when a school in Wisconsin raised 62,340 pennies to help build a school in Pakistan. Since that time, 50 states and 31 different countries have participated raising more than $7 million and supporting more than 100,000 students in remote regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.

“The program was successful before, but we wanted to ramp it up again,” explained P4P Program Manager Alanna Brown. “We created a new curriculum to meet standard core requirements, revamped the website, and put new life into it.” Designed as a service-learning program, P4P provides schools with free toolkits and a K-12 curriculum. Activities cover themes such as the power of education, effects of extreme poverty, cultural understanding, geography, politics, humanitarian efforts, and global citizenship. The program encourages students to broaden their cultural horizons and come to understand their own capacities as humanitarians. “It’s a way for kids to support kids overseas, and learn that even the smallest act of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life,” Alanna explains.

Other Community Initiatives

Another event was held at Bozeman’s 406 brewery, where a portion of drink sales was donated to the P4P program, raffle tickets were sold throughout the packed tasting room, and P4P program information was available. “We’re very open to hosting non-profit events like this,” says 406 owner Matt Muth. “Being part of the community is who we are, and we’re happy to share the space for a good cause.”

Kerry Hanson, vice president of Montana State University’s Alumni Relations program and a longtime CAI supporter, came to the event with friends. “The work is so meaningful and still really relevant, probably more so now than ever,” she said. She connected the P4P program with her sister’s school in a different state and was impressed by the results. “It was positive and meaningful for the teachers and the students,” Kerry explained. “I’m a supporter of education in general; you can’t take knowledge away, it empowers people.”

Bozeman coffee shop Zocalo donated 50 percent of all sales of a special latte for the month of January to P4P. “I felt it was important to support the CAI and Pennies for Peace, because an education is one of the most important things a child can be given, and that is what P4P is trying to do,” says co-owner Lilly Herro. “I’ve found Bozeman to be a very supportive community in many ways; people are always excited to see something they do in their daily life benefit another person, something as easy as buying a special coffee to benefit education.”

Red Tractor Pizza held coin drives in January as well to collect P4P funds. After the month of working with the Bozeman community, Alanna hopes that they have spread the word about the importance of education and service work.

“Fundraising is part of it, but really it’s about educating kids here about kids overseas who don’t have access to education,” Alanna says. “It’s learning about other cultures and the importance of giving back.”

]]>http://penniesforpeace.org/pennies-peace-promotes-importance-service/feed/0Students Helping Studentshttp://penniesforpeace.org/1704-2/
http://penniesforpeace.org/1704-2/#respondTue, 02 Feb 2016 18:34:22 +0000http://penniesfpeace.wpengine.com/?p=1704"I earn my money by recycling cans and bottles from neighbors and my moms work. I like to donate when I see people in need. We also have a jar at home we call the "Mr. Phil" jar named after a neighbor who is an amazing man. We put our extra money/change into the jar [...]

]]>“I earn my money by recycling cans and bottles from neighbors and my moms work. I like to donate when I see people in need. We also have a jar at home we call the “Mr. Phil” jar named after a neighbor who is an amazing man. We put our extra money/change into the jar throughout the year and when we find a family or a cause who needs a donation, we use that money. The school 2nd grade book club was reading Listen to the Wind and in that back of the book it said that a penny buys a pencil and one dollar pays for a month of education so I wanted to donate to the kids who need school supplies and an education”

Thank you Jason for supporting Pennies for Peace, you’re such an inspiration!

]]>http://penniesforpeace.org/1704-2/feed/0Back to school with Pennies for Peacehttp://penniesforpeace.org/back-school-pennies-peace/
http://penniesforpeace.org/back-school-pennies-peace/#respondSat, 26 Sep 2015 21:54:16 +0000http://penniesfpeace.wpengine.com/?p=1896As the new school year starts and students head back to school, Pennies for Peace (P4P) is launching an exciting, newly-enhanced service learning program. Service learning has become an essential part of the curriculum for many educators. Students participating in service projects learn valuable skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and leadership. They also [...]

]]>As the new school year starts and students head back to school, Pennies for Peace (P4P) is launching an exciting, newly-enhanced service learning program.

Service learning has become an essential part of the curriculum for many educators. Students participating in service projects learn valuable skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and leadership. They also gain appreciation for different cultures and learn about their own capacity as philanthropists. P4P helps students understand the issues facing the world and realize that they can affect change.

Ms. Karrel’s fifth-grade class at Chicago’s Hibbard Elementary School participated last year in Pennies for Peace. This is what she had to say about the experience:

“Service learning is important to our work in the classroom because it shows students that the skills we develop in class have a real world purpose. Service learning empowers the students, it shows them that their voices can be heard and they can make a difference even at a young age. P4P created an opportunity for the students to rally together and put all their efforts towards a cause that was important to them.”

Ms Karrel and class

P4P also offers opportunities to connect students all over the world. Last May, schools from Nigeria, Canada, Colorado, Chicago, to name just a few, participated in World Day of Cultural Diversity. The students celebrated by decorating posters, discussing other cultures, and collecting pennies. At the same time, thousands of miles away, students at CAI-supported schools in Central Asia made posters thanking students for donating their pennies and taking part in the event. Everyone felt that they were part of something bigger than themselves.

To date, Pennies for Peace has been implemented by over 7,000 schools and raised over $7,000,000 for deserving students in the impoverished, remote regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.

This year as students head back to class, tens of thousands of students in the U.S. and abroad will have the opportunity to participate in P4P. Educator Karen Hayes said:

“Many students are familiar with Afghanistan because of the war, but they did not know anything about their geography, food, ceremonies, education, and customs. The P4P toolkit and curriculum had all the resources for them to learn.”

Students and teachers participating in the program will have access to a brand new k-12 curriculum and toolkit. The lessons cover themes, such as the power of education, the effects of extreme poverty, cultural understanding, geography, politics, humanitarian effects, and our responsibilities as global citizens, and are aligned to the U.S. Common Core State Standards. The toolkit includes a sample timeline, template letters, new films, country facts, and more.

Students will learn about the cultures of Central Asia and experience the joy and satisfaction that comes from giving their time and energy to help students, just like themselves, who live without the same degree of freedom and opportunity we enjoy in the United States.

But P4P is not just for students and teachers. Anyone can participate – individuals, book clubs, and businesses. We hope you’ll explore our new, kid-friendly website and learn about the lasting effects of education, the regions in which we work, the projects that we’ve funded, and why we are so passionate about education.

And starting this fall, when you join Pennies for Peace you’ll receive a FREE map of Central Asia, new stickers for your penny jar, and a variety of beautiful photographs from the regions in which we work.

Pennies for Peace is a meaningful way for children, teachers, religious groups, individuals, and businesses to have an immediate impact in a region of the world where education can mean hope, possibilities, and peace.

Together we can cultivate peace, nurture hope, and change the world – one child at a time.